We will meet terror challenge resolutely, unitedly: Shivraj Patil

New Delhi, Nov 27 (IANS) The government was confident of teaching a “fitting lesson” to the terrorists, Home Minister Shivraj Patil said here Thursday as scores of people continued to be held hostage by terrorists in Mumbai. “We are confident that we will be able to secure the freedom of the hostages at the earliest and teach a fitting lesson to the terrorists,” Patil said in a statement.

Patil, who rushed to Mumbai Wednesday night after the terror attack, said the country was united against such cowardice acts and terrorists would not succeed in their designs to divide the people.

“The terrorists have again challenged the nation by targeting the commercial capital of our country. We will meet this challenge resolutely and unitedly. We must convey a strong message to terrorists that we will not be cowed down by their senseless and dastardly acts,” Patil said.

Patil said the home ministry has rushed National Security Guard commandos to Mumbai and they have already joined operations by the army, navy and the Mumbai police for rescuing the hostages.

Expressing grief towards those killed in terror attack, Patil said: “My heart goes out to the kin of those who lost their lives in these attacks. A number of our brave policemen made supreme sacrifice in trying to save the lives of innocent people. The country is proud of them.”

In what is Mumbai’s worst terror attack, at least 101 people, including a foreign tourist and four top police officers, were killed and over 250 injured when terrorists struck in a series of planned and synchronised gunfire and bomb attacks in the heart of India’s financial capital late Wednesday.